Head bar assembling machine



April 19, 1955 H. NELSON HEAD BAR AssEMBLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 23, 1949 FIG. |v

INVENTOR HAR/ey Naso/v BY /Z'Wjy/ /.Mw aff-77454.,

H IS ATTORNEYS April 19, 1955 H, NELSON 2,706,330

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No QN I M fm :s ATTORNEYS United States Patent O HEAD BAR ASSEMBLING MACHINE Harry Nelson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Lorentzen Hardware Mfg. Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1949, Serial No. 129,129

8 Claims. (Cl. 29-200) This invention relates to a method of and machine for assembling metal fittings on a Venetian blind head bar.

The invention is directed to the provision of a machine for quickly and accurately assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar on a production basis. It is particularly adapted to the assembling of fittings on the type of head bar disclosed in my application S. N. 778,002, filed October 4, 1947, which issued as Patent No. 2,629,434 on February 24, 1953, such type of head bar being also shown in Fig. of the drawings hereof. The fittings contemplated are pulleys, cord locks, tilter mechanisms; tilt rod cradles and other devices which it may be desired to assembled on a head bar. The machine described herein is in some respects an improvement over the one described and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 694,237, filed August 3l, 1946, now Patent No. 2,603,856, issued July 22, 1952.

In the form of the invention herein disclosed, the machine comprises a structure in which a series of fixtures, which receive the fittings and act as anvils, are mounted on a carriage which is movable along a track so as to position each of the fixtures in succession under a pressure head or hammer, which may be actuated by means of a pedal. The pressure-applying surface of the hammer is so formed as to telescopically cooperate with elements of any of the fixtures. Each of the fixtures is adapted to l1:')eceive a particular fitting to be installed on the head The head bar, which is preferably formed of light gauge sheet steel which has already been so stamped as to provide pairs of projecting tabs for insertion beside and crimping over the fittings, is successively positioned over the several fixtures and the fittings carried thereby. The fixtures have positioning elements or fingers which pass through slots formed in the head bar by the previous stamping operation, aiding in accurately positioning the head bar and guiding the tabs into position beside the fittings.

After the head bar has been so positioned on any fixture, the fixture carriage may be pushed to a position beneath the hammer. Then, upon operation of the pedal, the hammer applies pressure to force the head bar and fitting telescopically downward on the fixture, during which movement the projecting tabs of the head bar are crimped against the fitting to permanently and firmly secure the fitting to the head bar. This operation is similarly performed in connection with each fitting and fixture on which it is positioned.

A feature of the present machine is that operation of the hammer is restrained by a locking device to prevent operation of the hammer unless a head bar is positioned on one of the fixtures and the head bar and fixture are aligned beneath the hammer, thus preventing damage to the fixture by operation of the machine when the hammer and fixture are not properly aligned. Another feature of the machine is that supports are provided on each side of the fixtures for facilitating application of the head bar to the fixtures. These supports are preferably painted in order to avoid marring a head bar which has been painted before the fittings are attached.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for easily and quickly attaching fittings to a Venetian blind head bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine which will maintain the correct relative positions between a Venetian blind head bar and the fittings to be attached thereto during the attaching operation.

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Another object of the invention is to provide a machine that will aid in rapidly and correctly positioning ttings on a Venetian blind head bar.

Another object is to prevent transposition and/or reversal of fittings being installed along a Venetian blind head bar.

Another object is to prevent operation of the hammer except when a head bar and fixture are aligned with the hammer.

Another object is to provide an improved head bar support for facilitating engagement of the head bar with the various fixtures.

Another object is to provide adjustable stops for facilitating engagement of either end portion of the head bar with certain of the fixtures.

A further object is to provide such a machine which may be economically produced and which is composed substantially entirely of sheet metal stampings.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and use, will more definitely appear in the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims, as well as in the description, parts are at times identified by specific names for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective vew of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Portions of the machine have been broken away for conv enience of illustration and to show details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a Venetian blind head bar of the type which the present machine is adapted to assemble. The head bar is shown in inverted position, the front wall of the head bar is partially broken away and some of the fittings are shown in exploded relation.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the fixtures and fixture carriage and a portion of the track. Portions of the track are broken away to show details of construction; and the fitting which each fixture is adapted to receive is shown opposite that fixture.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the fixtures and fixture carriage, portions of the fixtures, fixture carriage track being shown in vertical section and a portion of the track being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the tilter end of a head bar bearing a modified form of tilter.

Fig. 7 is a fixture adapter for engagement with the regular tilter fixture of the machine for adapting it for installation of the tilter shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the tilter fixture, including the fixture adapter of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of one of the fixtures for receiving a tilt rod cradle.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken through the cord lock fixture and hammer, a cord-like fitting and head bar being ishown interposed on the fixture ready for securing the tting.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section similar to Fig. l0 after securing the fitting.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the machine, a portion of the supporting framework being broken away and a head bar being shown in position for engagement with one of the fixtures. The head bar is also shown in broken lines in applied position on one of the fixtures.

Before proceeding with the description of the head bar assembling machine, the nature and general construction of the head bar will first be explained. Referring to Fig. 3, the head bar 15 is formed of sheet metal and is of generally rectangular channel form. Blind-operating fittings are located along the inside bottom wall of the head bar. These fittings usually comprise a tilter 16, two or more tilt rod cradles 17, and a cord lock fitting 19, which are located and secured to the bottom wall of the head bar by clinching over upstanding tabs which have previously been struck from the bottom wall of the head bar. The tabs are arranged in pairs and one of the tabs is clinched over an opposite side of each of the fittings.

The machine of the present invention has fixtures especially adapted for receiving one of the above fittings and holding it in inverted position. The head bar is then placed on each of the fittings in turn and moved beneath a pressure-applying hammer which forces the head bar against the fitting and fixture to clinch the tab about the fitting, the fixture serving as an anvil to guide the tabs to clinched position.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 12, the machine includes a track 21 which is supported in substantially horizontal position on a generally flat plate 22 and which in turn supports a fixture carriage 24 which may be rolled freely along the track. The plate A22 has downwardly-directed marginal flanges, and outwardly-directed mounting flanges 23, 23. Details of the fixture carriage and track will be described hereinafter.

The plate 22 is supported at a convenient height from the floor for operation of the machine by a framework comprising a base plate 25 and corner uprights 26. Stiffener plates 27 are secured to the sides of the uprights 26 and the plate 22 is carried on a top frame plate 29, the mounting flanges 23, 23 being secured thereto. The framework is preferably formed of light gauge sheet metal sections which are secured in as sembled relation by spot welding or otherwise. In the form shown, the uprights 26 are formed of Venetian blind head bar channel stock.

The fixture carriage 24 is generally rectangular in form and may be formed of a sheet metal stamping having a depending marginal flange 30 extending around the four sides thereof. Rollers 31, which may be formed of small ball bearings having their inner races secured to the flange 30 by screws, support the carriage for rolling movement along the track 21.

The track 21 may be formed of a raised central section 32 and runners 34, 34, the runners receiving the rollers 31. The central section 32 of the track is mounted on the top surface of the plate 22 and may be formed of two superimposed plates as indicated in Figs. 10 and l1. The runners 34, 34 are normally held in raised position against the overhanging portions of the section 32 by a pair of sheet metal springs 35, 35, these springs being secured on the under side of the plate 22 and engaging the runners through holes provided in the plate (Fig. l0). The strength of the springs 35, 35 is such that they will bear the weight of the fixture carriage 24, together with the various fixtures and fit tings.

The fixture carriage 24 is retained on the track 21 by a pair of retaining strips 33, 33 secured to the plate 25, each strip having a flange 38 overlying the adjacent runner 34 and the rollers 31 (Figs. 4, 10 and 1l). The forward ends of the retaining strips 33, 33 may each be provided with a small rubber block 40 to serve as a bumper for engaging the mounting screws of the forward rollers 31 to limit forward motion of the carriage 24.

Fixtures are mounted on the top of the fixture carriage 24, one fixture being provided for each fitting to be mounted on the head bar. For the form of head bar shown, the fixtures comprise a cord lock fixture 36, a pair of similar tilt rod cradle fixtures 37, 37, and a tilter fixture 39. These fixtures may be mounted from front to rear on the carriage 24 in the order above listed, and as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, each of the fixtures is secured to the carriage by Allen head screws passed through mounting flanges at the base of each fixture.

While each of the fixtures on the carriage 24 is differently shaped in order to hold a specific fitting for assembly on the head bar 15, the fixtures are all generally similar in operating principle, and all are formed from sheet metal stampings. The cord lock fixture 36 will be described in detail.

The cord lock fixture 36 has a pair of vertical side flanges 41, 41. A finger 42 projects upwardly from each side flange 41 of the fixture, the finger first being inclined outwardly and then upwardly, as indicated in Figs. 10 and l1. The size and spacing of the fingers 42, 42 are such as to permit them to be entered within the square notches 44, 44 in the base 43 of the cord lock 19, there being a slight space between each finger and the base of the notch.

The cord lock 19 is supported on the fixture 36 by an ejector or stripper 45, the ejector being mounted for vertical movement within the side flanges 41, 41 of the fixture. The ejector 45 is normally held in raised position by a helical spring 46, the base 43 of the cord lock being held in level position and opposite the vertical portions of the fingers 42, 42.

The head bar 15 is provided with a pair of tabs 47, 47 struck from the bottom wall of the head bar for receiving the cord lock. The head bar, which has previously been punched to form these tabs, is inverted over the fixture 36, the fingers 42, 42 of the fixture being passed through the openings in the head bar resulting from striking the tabs and the tabs, as a result, entering along the inside surface of the fingers and between the fingers and the bases of the slots 44, 44 of the cord lock. The base 43 of the cord lock (see Fig. 10) is in such position that both it and the head bar 15 are substantially level.

After the head bar 15 has been so located on the fixture 36 and cord lock 19, the head bar is moved rearwardly along the track 21 to a position beneath the hammer 20. Actuation of the hammer forces the head bar 15 and cord lock 19 downwardly on the fixture 36, the spring 46 being compressed somewhat and the ejector 45 moving downwardly. At the same time, the springs 35, 35 are also somewhat deflected, permitting the carriage 24 to be supported directly from the central section 32 of the track 21 so as to carry the thrust of the hammer directly through the fixture and fixture carriage to the track, rather than carrying this load through the rollers 31 (see Fig. 1).

Downward movement of the head bar 15 causes the tabs 47, 47 to contact the inclined surfaces of the finger 42, 42 of the fixture, bending these tabs over the base 43 of the cord lock 19 so as to hold the cord lock in permanently assembled position. During such clinching movement of the tabs, the ejector holds the base 43 of the cord lock fitting tightly against the head bar. lt has been found that it is not necessary to bend the tabs 47, 47 completely into the plane of the base 43 in order to retain the cord lock 19 in position, it being sufficient to bend the tabs nearly flat, as indicated in Fig. 11.

The operation of the fixtures 37, 37 and 39 is generally similar. The fixtures 37, 37 have somewhat wider fingers 49, 49 which receive the base of the tilt rod cradle 17 in a manner similar to that previously described for the cord lock fitting 19. The tabs 50, 50 of the head bar 15 are similarly clinched over the base of the cradle 17 to hold the cradle in position. In this instance, in the finished blind, the ends of the ladder tape branches are passed through the holes in the bottom wall of the head bar formed by striking the tabs 50, 5f) and these tabs serve to provide a smooth bearing along one side of the holes for passage of the ladder tape.

The tilter fixture 39 is similar in operation to the fixtures previously described, each of the fixtures being so formed as to receive only a specific fitting. In addition, each fixture is shaped to receive its fitting in only one position so as to prevent transposition or reversal of fittings and incorrect assembly of a head bar.

The hammer 20 is, in essence, a pressure member for forcing the head bar 15 downwardly on the fixtures. The hammer may be formed as indicated in the drawings so as to extend almost completely between the upwardlyprojecting fingers of each fixture. Preferably, the hammer is comprised of a solid rectangular block of steel 51 which is covered by a thin sheet 52 of hardened tool steel. A cap 54 for the hammer is formed of a sheet metal stamping extending across the top and sides of the block 51, the sides of the cap being cut away in part to provide clearance for the pairs of fingers of the fixture.

The hammer 20 is carried on a flat stamped metal operating rod 55 which is supported for vertical reciprocation in a sleeve 56 located above the rear of the track 21. The sleeve 56 is carried on a framework including a pair of downwardly diverging plates 57, 57 mounted on the plate 22 of the machine. Preferably, side portions of the sleeve 56 project downwardly to form a pair of guides 59, 59 (see Fig. 12) restraining the operating rod 55 against sideways movement.

The operating rod 55 is pivotally connected to an operating lever 60, pivotally mounted on the frame formed by the plates 57, 57. The rear end of the lever 60 is pivotally connected with a link 61, extending down the back of the machine and being pivotally connected to the rear end of a pedal 62. The pedal 62 is pivotally mounted on a pair of flanges 64, 64 supported on the base plate 25 of the machine and is provided with a resilient pad 65 at its forward end, adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator. Operation of the pedal 62 forces the hammer 20 downward so as to exert pressure on the head bar and cause attachment of the particular fitting under the hammer in the manner previously described.

The hammer is biased towards raised position by a helical spring 66 which draws the link 61 downward. The extent of downward-operating travel of the hammer may be adjusted by a bolt 67, threadedly engaged with the pedal 62 so as to adjustably limit the operating movement of the pedal.

A hammer-restraining lock 69 is provided to prevent operation of the hammer, except when a fixture and superimposed head bar are aligned with the hammer. This lock comprises a U-shaped locking member 70, mounted for forward and rearward reciprocation on the innerfaces of the divergent plates 57, 57. The locking member 70 is biased forwardly by a spring 71, in which position, the forward ends 72, 72 of the member project forwardly of the forward edge of the plates 57, 57 and the base 74 of the member extends above a lug 75 mounted on the link 61 so as to prevent upward movement of the link and consequent operation of the hammer.

When a superimposed head bar is pressed rearwardly against the plates 57, 57, the locking member 70 is moved rearwardly sufiiciently to permit upward movement of the link 61. Preferably, the base 74 of the locking member 70 is inclined, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the hammer-operating mechanism will return to hammer-raised position when released, the lug 75 camming the locking member 70 rearwardly to permit this movement. Rearward movement of the head bar is limited by stops located on the plates 57, 57, one stop 58 being indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Head bar supports 76, 76 are provided, one on each side of the carriage 24. Each head bar support is formed of a pair of laterally-projecting angles 77 and 79 secured to the plate 22, as indicated in the drawings. The angles 77 and 79 are connected at their extremities and adjacent their inner ends by elements in the form of cross pieces 80, 80, the cross piece 80, at the extremities of the angles 77, 79, being generally inclined to conform with the upper edges of the angles and the inner cross piece 80 being generally horizontal. The inner cross piece 80 is somewhat higher than the outer one to define an inwardly upwardly-inclined supporting plane for the head bars to be assembled.

The cross pieces 80, 80 are preferably painted so as to avoid marring a head bar that has been painted before assembling. For convenience, the cross piece 80 may be formed of Venetian blind bottom bar stock telescopically engaged with the angles 77 and 79, such stock being usually available in shops where a machine such as this would be used in scrap-lengths sufficient for this purpose.

A short upwardly-projecting vertical member 81 may be telescopically mounted on each of the angles 77 and 79 between the cross piece 80, 80 to limit forward and backward movement of the head bar 15 when resting on one of the supports 76, 76. Preferably, the members 81, 81 are also formed of Venetian blind bottom bar stock and a plastic bottom bar end cap 82 prevents marring of head bars on the upper ends of the members 81, 81.

End stops 84, 84 are provided on the carriage 24 in conjunction with both the cord lock fixture 36 and the tilter fixture 39. Each of these end stops consists of a U-shaped rod having one end of the U journalled in the fiange at an end of the carriage (see Fig. 5), the end stop projecting upwardly beside the fixture and terminating in an inwardly-directed portion adjacent the fixture. Both of the end stops 84, 84 may be threadedly engaged in a U-shaped sheet metal'member secured to the underside of the carriage 24 (Fig. 5). A pair of upstanding, inclined anges 85, 85 limit the oscillation of the forward end stop 84 so as to position the stop at either side of the fixture 36. A spring member 83 positioned between the carriage 24 and each end stop 84 interposes frictional resistance to the oscillation of the end stop to prevent fortuitous movement.

In operation of the machine, the head bar may be placed on the support 76 at one side of the carriage 24, as indicated in solid lines in Fig. 12, the end of the head bar being slid over the xture 36 and against the end stop 84. The relationship of the end stop to the fixture is such that the higher end of the head bar 15 may then be depressed to rock the head bar on the supporting element 80 lying closer to the pressure member to bring it to horizontal and superimpose the head bar on the fitting and fixture in the manner previously disclosed.

1t is usual to locate the cord lock at the right end of the head bar (viewing the head bar from inside the room), in which case, the stop 84 is positioned as indicated in Fig. l2. However for certain installations it is desirable to assemble the cord lock on the opposite end of the head bar, and this is provided for by oscillating the end stop to the opposite side of the fixture. The end stop 84 adjacent the tilter fixture 39 i's similar in construction and function.

Usually, in the assembly of the fittings on the head bar, the fittings held in fixture 36 and the -adjacent fixture 37 will be assembled in the head bar with the head bar positioned on the inclined support 76 at the right in Fig. 12. The head bar is then moved so as to be positioned on the support 79 at the left-hand side of Fig. 12 to allow the fittings on the fixture 39 and the fixture 37 adjacent thereto to be assembled with the head bar in the same manner. The stop members 84, S4, in the position shown in Fig. 4, aid in engaging the head bar with the fixtures 36 and 39 and the fittings carried thereby when making a head bar for a blind having the cord lock at the right end and the tilter -at the left end when viewed from inside a room. For assembling an opposite-hand blind, the positions of the stops are reversed.

Normally the ejector 48 of each tilt rod cradle fixture 37 is positioned within the fixture as indicated in Fig. 4 with an upwardly projecting portion 53 fitting in the cord aperture of the fitting to prevent reversal of the fitting. However, reversal of the tilt rod cradle fittings is required for an opposite hand head bar and this is provided for by removing and reversing the ejector 48 in the fixture, as shown in Fig. 9. This is accomplished by removing the screw 58, which holds the ejector within the fixture 37, after which the ejector may be lifted out and reversed.

The front and rear flanges of the cord lock fixture 36 and the tilter fixture 39 may be extended. beyond the side walls of the fixtures and terminate in converging anges 87 and 88, respectively, at each side of the fixtures, as indicated in Fig. 4. This construction serves to guide the ends of the bead bar 15 over the fixtures so as to facilitate application of the head bar thereto. In addition, a downwardly inclined guide 86 may be provided on the forward side of each of the tilt rod cradle fixtures 37 to aid in assembling the head bar on these fixtures, the guide engaging a forward wall of the channel and properly locating the channel transversely on the fixture.

The above-described fixtures have been formed for receiving specific fittings. However, the tilter fixture may be adapted for receiving the tilter shown in Fig. 6 by the addition of a fixture adapter 89 (Fig. 7).

The adapter 89 comprises a sheet metal stamping having a base 90 and four upstanding legs 91 which are slightly divergent so that, upon insertion within the fixture 39, they will retain the adapter in position (Fig. 8). The adapter also has a pair of bifurcated upstanding fianges 92, 92 for receiving the modified tilter 94 of Fig. 6. The flanges 92, 92 may each have a slot 95 formed therein so as to rcsiliently grip the tilter.

The fixture adapter 89 and a set of wrenches for adjustment and disassembly of the machine may be supported in a rack 96 on the outside face of one of the plates 57.

I claim:

1. A machine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for supporting a fitting to be attached to a Venetian blind head bar, a member cooperating with the fixture for forcing the fitting and head bar against the fixture to effect attachment of the fitting to the head bar, head bar supports on each side of the fixture and each having portions defining a plane inclined upwardly towards the fixture for supporting a head bar above the fixture for engagement therewith by rocking the head bar towards the horizontal, and an end stop adjacent to the fixture and engageable by the end of the head bar to facilitate engagement of the head bar with the fixture and fitting, the end stop being shiftable from side to side of the fixture.

2. A machine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for supporting a fitting to be attached to a Venetian blind head bar, a member cooperating with the fixture for forcing the fitting and head bar against the fixture to effect attachment of the fitting to the head bar, head bar supports on each side of the fixture and each having portions defining a plane inclined upwardly towards the fixture for supporting a head bar above the fixture for engagement therewith by rocking the head bar towards the horizontal, and an end stop adjacent to the fixture and engageable by the end of the head bar to facilitate engagement of the head bar with the fixture and fitting, the end stop being pivotally mounted and oscillatable from side to side of the fixture.

3. A machine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for supporting a fitting to be attached to a Venetian blind head bar, a pressure member cooperating with the fixture for forcing the fitting and the head bar against the fixture to effect attachment of the fitting to the head bar, and a head bar support adjacent to the fixture and having portions defining a plane inclined upwardly towards the fixture for supporting a head bar with a portion thereof above the fixture for eng-agement therewith.

4. A machine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for supporting a fitting to be attached to a Venetian blind head bar, a pressure member cooperating with the fixture for forcing the fitting and the head bar against the fixture to effect attachment of the fitting to the head bar, and a head bar support adjacent to the fixture and having a pair of straight parallel elements spaced laterally of the fixture, the element closer to the fixture being higher so as to define a plane inclined upwardly towards the fixture for supporting a head bar with a portion thereof above the fitting for engagement therewith.

5. A machine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for supporting a fitting and Venetian blind head bar during attachment of the fitting to the head bar, a pressure member cooperating with the fixture for exerting a force against the head bar to effect attachment of the fitting thereto, and a head bar support adjacent the fixture and having two elements spaced laterally of the fixture, the element closer to the fixture being higher so as to define a plane inclined upwardly towards the fixture for supporting the head bar above the fixture for engagement therewith by rocking the head bar towards the horizontal on the element closer to the fixture.

6. A machine for assembling a fitting on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for receiving a fitting to be applied adjacent an end of a head bar, pressure-applying means cooperating with the fixture for forcing the fitting and the head bar against the fixture to effect attachment of the fitting to the head bar, and an end stop adjacent to the fixture and engageable by the end of the head bar to facilitate engagement of the head bar with the fixture and fitting, said end stop being movably mounted for transposition to the opposite side of the fixture for engaging the other end of the head bar with the fixture.

7. A machine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for supporting a Venetian blind head bar and a fitting to be attached thereto, a pressure member cooperating with the fixture for forcing the head bar and fitting against the fixture to effect attachment of the fitting to the head bar, means for moving the pressure member in its operative stroke, the fixture being movable to a position aligned with the pressure member and the pressure member being movable in a predetermined path, and means for restraining operation of the pressure member except when the fixture with the head bar thereon is correctly aligned with the pressure member, said last-named means comprising cooperating elements for locking the pressure member moving means into inoperative position, means to urge such locking elements into locking position, and means engaged by the head bar for moving the locking elements to unlocked position upon movement of the fixture and head bar superimposed thereon to such aligned position.

8. A machine forvassembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture for supporting a Venetian blind head bar and a fitting to be attached thereto, a pressure member cooperating with the fixture for forcing the head bar and fitting against the fixture to effect attachment of the fitting to the head bar, means for moving the pressure member in its operative stroke, said means including an element moved substantially lengthwise, the fixture being movable to a position aligned with the pressure member and the pressure member being movable in a predetermined path, and means for restraining operation of the pressure member except when the fixture with the head bar superimposed thereon is correctly aligned with the pressure member, said means comprising cooperating parts for locking the means for moving the pressure member into inoperative position, one of said parts being attached to the element of the pressure member moving means and another of said parts being slidably attached to the frame of the machine, means to urge the second part into locking engagement with the first part to prevent longitudinal motion of said element, and means engaged by the head bar for moving said second part out of engagement with the first part and to unlocked position upon movement of the fixture and superimposed head bar to aligned position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,567 Dolan Dec. 26, 1882 1,846,007 Levine Feb. 16, 1932 1,995,741 Granite Mar. 26, 1935 1,996,109 Hiering Apr. 2, 1935 2,205,008 Gray June 18, 1940 2,264,897 Becker et al. Dec. 2, 1941 2,289,076 Ryan July 7, 1942 2,348,237 Barr et al. May 9, 1944 2,398,550 Nelson Apr. 16, 1946 

